I don't think there's anything wrong with asking for money when you're in need - but it can be a real detective game to find the right place to look! There are kajillions of resources, most of them local, to help out people in various situations. Some of them are governmental, but most are private concerns - civic, religious, or community organizations - funded by individuals or networks in a far better position to help out folks who are in a bad situation than most of the people here. I don't figure there are many people on PT who are in a position to play the philanthropist - demographically, we seem to be mostly working people, many with LARGE families. I think that when someone gets hammered by circumstance, the smartest thing to do is to start seeking advice geographically nearby - a religious leader, city hall, even the hospital or the police department can sometimes point you in the right direction.

Love, Columbine